Uncle Mo Looks for First-Crop Classic Glory

As young sires go, about the only question left for Uncle Mo   to answer is his ability to get a classic horse—and he'll begin that effort for the first time this year.

Last year Uncle Mo, by Indian Charlie, not only led the freshman sire list with record-breaking progeny earnings of more than $3.67 million, but the juvenile sire list as well. He was paced by champion 2-year-old male Nyquist, who is expected to be the favorite as he enters this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a perfect record in seven starts.

Doug O'Neill, who trains last year's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Nyquist, said the standout quality of the Uncle Mo horses he has trained is their will to win.

"They're all so competitive; vastly competitive," O'Neill said. "The ones I train have good speed and put themselves in good position. They're well-balanced."

From his first crop, Uncle Mo is expected to have three Derby starters in Nyquist, Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner Outwork, and Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Mo Tom. Grade III-placed Laoban is on the Derby bubble but likely won't make the field.

Other sires expected to have Derby starters from their first crop this year include Twirling Candy   with San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) winner Danzing Candy, and Trappe Shot   with Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) runner-up My Man Sam. From his first crop Misremembered   has grade II-placed Dazzling Gem on the outside looking in.

Not coincidentally, Uncle Mo, Twirling Candy, and Trappe Shot rank one, two, and four, respectively, through May 2 on the second-crop sire list. 

On the track Uncle Mo did not win beyond 1 1/16 miles, the distance at which the son of Indian Charlie—Playa Maya, by Arch  , scored a 4 1/4-length victory in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. A bout of cholangiohepatitis prevented Uncle Mo from racing in any of the classics, and he finished off the board in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) going 1 1/4 miles at Churchill. 

At stud Uncle Mo already has had two grade I winners at 1 1/8 miles in Nyquist and Outwork. Average winning distance of his sons and daughters this year been 7.16 furlongs, which is best of the three sires expected to have runners from their first crops in this year's Derby. 

Twirling Candy set a Santa Anita Park track record when he won the 2010 Malibu Stakes (gr. I), completing seven furlongs in 1:19.70. The son of Candy Ride  —House of Danzing, by Chester House, won a pair of grade II races at 1 1/8 miles and was beaten a head in the 2011 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (gr. I) going 1 1/4 miles on the Del Mar Polytrack. The average winning distance of Twirling Candy runners in 2016 has been 6.6 furlongs.

Trappe Shot's lone graded stakes win came sprinting six furlongs in the 2011 True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park, but the son of Tapit  —Shopping, by Private Account, did win the 1 1/16-mile Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. Average winning distance of his runners this year has been 6.93 furlongs.

A first-crop sire who registers a Derby winner in his first crop can expect plenty of reward. In the past 20 years five sires saw runners from their first crop win the Derby: Unbridled with Grindstone in 1996, Maria's Mon with Monarchos   in 2001, Distorted Humor  , with Funny Cide in 2003, Street Cry with Street Sense   in 2007, and Birdstone   with Mine That Bird in 2009.

In the year after their first-crop Derby winner, the stud fees for those five horses more than doubled, going up, on average, 166%. In the year of their first-crop Derby winner, public auction yearling prices for those five stallions jumped, on average, 83% when compared with their yearling prices the previous year.